Brocade and Denim

As a stylist, I enjoy mixing denim with more formal pieces.  This lovely violet brocade jacket really dresses up the tailored denim trousers (both thrifted!).  The detail on the lace blouse is amazing.  Cream and gray pearls, a topaz rhinestone necklace, drop earrings, and patent pumps are a great compliment to the look.  I love how the rusted metal chair contrasts with the formality of the outfit.     

Military - Trend or Timeless Classic

Granted, the military "trend" is more popular in some seasons than others.  But it's almost always around in some form or another.  Really, we should consider it a timeless classic instead of a trend. 

 

Burberry



KMart

 The fashion magazines and runways are abundant with models totally decked out in full military array...jumpsuits, aviator jackets, cargo pants, lace up soldier boots, uniform hats, and jackets with buttons and huge epaulets.  How do we interpret the look to suit our lifestyle without appearing to be dressed for Halloween?  I suggest wearing one military inspired piece at a time. 

Two easy pieces to incorporate into your current wardrobe are the military jacket and cargo pants.  There are always some really great, but inexpensive options available.  Pair your military jacket with jeans for a totally casual look with plenty of style.  Or throw it over a feminine dress for an unexpected combination (as shown above).



Balmain



Moschino

Whether your opt for the new skinny cargo pants or the looser (easier to wear) original version, try adding a floral top or casual sweater for two totally different looks.

For those of you who prefer to be more understated, but still want to add a military inspired piece to your wardrobe for fall, here are two great options.



Dries Van Noten



Paul Smith

    
My advice for your first military purchase...buy a "middle of the road" jacket, then plan to keep it forever.  Trust me, this won't be the last season you will wear it.

Wedding tiaras, headbands, combs and circlets - The design process.

I am often asked how I come up with the designs for the LHG Designs collection at Wedding and Baby. Well having a degree in product design certainly helps, followed by getting a sketch pad out and researching bridal trends.



But I have to admit when creating new designs I do need to get into the zone. Everything is planned out and normally the raw materials are bought first and the creations come from that. Using intuition on selecting raw materials is very satisfying. However I guess it is with lots of experience that I can visualise what the products can turn into. I try to create a certain number of pieces for a collection in a day, but if the creative juices aren’t flowing that day I will return to it fresh the next day. There is nothing worse that forcing through a design when you just feel it isn’t working.


The most exciting part of buying raw materials is when selecting original vintage pieces. The buzz of getting one off vintage rhinestones and upcycling them into a beautiful headband, tiara, comb or circlet is very rewarding.


In the bespoke designs – it gets even more exciting. Often brides will send me an image of their dress and an idea of the theme they are looking for. From there I take into account all the aspects and design features of the dress, as well as how the bride plans to wear her hair for the big day.


The greatest thing about what I do is all about making the wearer happy. I get so much pleasure from being able to create such a special item for a bride – which will be treasured for years to come. When a bride leaves the studio in tears of joy or I get a big cuddle from them, words can’t describe how ecstatic it makes me feel.


Over the last week LHG Designs at Wedding and Baby had a lot of interest from the media. So at a time when I thought I would get a chance to create the new collection when the wedding season was starting to become a little quieter – I have been busier than ever. I am also delighted to have Wedding and Baby shortlisted as Accessory Supplier of the Year by  http://www.thebridalmag.co.uk/ so fingers crossed. Winning an award this year would be a perfect ending to 2010.

My jewellery and circlet arrived this morning, it’s amazing I am more than pleased with the order. It's way more than I could have wished for, its perfect exactly what I had imagined.


I just want to say thank you so much, I felt like a real princess when I tried it all on, I know I'm gonna feel amazing on the day. I will definitely be recommending you to all my friends, you have a real talent.


It amazed my guests, and my husband, he said I looked like a princess.


have attached a couple of photo's so you can see what an wonderful job you did for me, how the jewellery not only complimented my dress but complimented me, which is amazing because you never actually saw what I looked like.


Once again thank you from the bottom of my heart. Shelley xxx

Great Pants for Fall

It's great to see the wonderful selection of pants that are availalble this season:  trousers, flares, peg leg, harem, cigarette, paper bag waist, etc.  There is something for everyone.  Here are a few photos of my two favorite pant looks:  the menswear trouser and the slight flare.

The slight flare (reminiscent of the 70's) is fitted in the hips and thighs and then gradually flares below the knee.  It is especially flattering on curvy figures as it balances out the hip area.  Avoid pants that are too tight.  A good fitting pant should have a 1" leeway in the thigh area. 

The menswear trouser (made popular in the 1940's by Katherine Hepburn) provides a little extra room for those with ample hips and thighs.  But make sure they fit well in the rear with not too much extra material in the upper thigh area.  If you are petite (under 5'4") avoid pants that are too loose, have too large a flare, or pants with a cuff.  Think proportion.   

Pair your menswear trousers with feminine, silky blouses (tucked in) and a heeled shoe or boot.  With your flares, try sleek simple tops or sweaters, depending on your build, and platforms or a heeled shoes to create a long, lean line.  With both looks, you definitely need some form of waist definition.       

Asking for Money as a Wedding Gift? Gillian Bell from StarWeds tells us how.

Cash is king as a wedding gift


In the 1980's it was almost unheard of to ask for money as wedding gift but by the 1990's people were starting to come round to the idea and cash became the second most sought after wedding gift, with kitchen and home-wares taking the number one spot.


Couples living together before marriage has become the norm rather than the exception. Currently in the UK, more than three quarters of couples live together before marriage. Therefore, it is understandable that most people no longer have the need or desire to set up a gift registry with a department store in order to buy household goods. Newlyweds are more likely to spend their money on a dream honeymoon, home improvements or even paying back some of the cost of their wedding.


It is easy to see why money has overtaken old favourites such as kitchen equipment and towel bales as the most favourable wedding gift. It is important to note, though, that this isn't by any means a new phenomenon. In fact, only 20 years ago, we were starting to see that money was creeping to the top of the wedding gift list. Cash is most certainly king for wedding gifts nowadays and this trend definitely looks set to continue.


My partner, Chris, and I are the creators of http://www.starweds.co.uk/ . We came up with the idea in May 2009. Chris and I attended five weddings last year and gave money as a gift at each one. We found that there was no safe and/or easy way to do this, so we developed the innovative idea of StarWeds.


StarWeds is the sophisticated and hassle-free way to ask for money as a wedding gift.


We provide:


• A personalised wedding website where your guests can contribute money:


- Choice of themes


- Online guest book


- Your own blog


- Personalised web address


- Directions to your venue


- Countdown timer


- And much more


• Beautiful customised invitation inserts to tell your guests about your site.


• Your guests can contribute via quick, easy and secure payment methods on your wedding website (i.e. credit/debit card via PayPal, cheque or balance transfer).


Our service is completely hassle-free for both the couples and the wedding guests. Guests don't need to worry about whether or not there will be a money box at the wedding, or which of the bridal party they should give their money gift to for safe keeping, they don't need to stress about sending money in the post or if sending a cheque, whether to make it out to the bride's maiden name or married name. Also from the couple's perspective, they won't need to spend all day at the bank cashing in lots of cheques and cash. We simply send one cheque with all the contributions from their guests.


Please visit http://www.starweds.co.uk/ , and if you would like to view a sample of the personalised wedding website, then please visit http://www.starweds.co.uk/sample .






Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/starweds


Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/starweds

Finding Your Own Personal Style - Personality

What is personal style and how do you develop it?  Personal style is your image...how you are viewed by the world. There are three main factors that should influence your personal style:  your personality and lifestyle, your body shape, and your natural coloring.  In this post, I'm going to cover personality.   

 

What is clothing personality?

Clothing personality is an expression of who we are by the clothes we wear.  There are 4 "basic" categories of clothing personality:  Romantic, Classic, Natural, and Dramatic. Most of us are a combination of a least two of these.  And those can change as we mature and as our lifestyle is altered.  Some life altering events that can change the image we want or need to portray are graduation, marriage, having children, and changing occupations, just to name a few.

How do you know which personality categories you are?  Items that you wear repeatedly and feel great in are a fantastic indicator of your personality.  Take a good close look at them.  Are they frilly/Romantic, attention demanding/Dramatic, traditional/Classic, or basic utilitarian/Natural?  Remember, clothes are a combination of styles...as are we.    

Here's a little visual aid to help hone your "clothing personality" skills.  The following photos are of four white tees that represent the 4 categories.  Study them carefully to see what makes them romantic, dramatic, classic or natural.  If you were going to wear only the top and some pants, which tops can you see yourself wearing the most often?
 

Romantic

  

Dramatic

  

Classic



Natural

Most teens and young adults are part natural (therefore, jeans and tees).  Most fashion bloggers must be part Dramatic and/or Romantic, because die hard Naturals and Classics aren't much into fashion trends!  Granted, we can incorporate pieces from all 4 personalities into our wardrobe, but in the end, our final outfit needs to portray who we are.  So the next time you go shopping, make sure the item your are about to purchase suits your personality.

Wearing Olive for Fall



One of the hot colors for fall is olive.  You can find almost every garment and accessory available in some version of olive.  Here are a few:



Oscar de la Renta



Love this dress!



BCBG

 

Dolce Vita



Seychelles



Moschino



Fossil

 


Olive may be the "in" color this season, but IN GENERAL, it looks better on warm skin tones.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind so you can make the trend work with your own natural coloring.  Olive comes in a variety of shades including green, brown, and gray.  Try differents shades of olive (in good lighting) to see what works best with your skin tone.  The good news is...ANYONE can successfully wear olive...by simply adding a blouse or scarf of a more flattering color close to their face or by wearing olive on the bottom half or as an accessory.

To add more flair and interest to your outfit, pair your olive pieces with brights (such as red), animal prints, and fur.



Long Skirts

I am so enamored with the long skirts that are popping up this fall...mid-calf to floor grazing.


LouisVuiton

Ralph Lauren

Louis Vuitton

Forever 21


 

Zara

 


Rachel Pally at Revolve Clothing

 These graceful beauties are extremely wearable, not to mention comfortable.  Opt for an A-line skirt in a flowy fabric.  That is the best style on most body types.  But remember that too much fabric at the hemline can make you look frumpy, especially if you are petite.  Long skirts are best paired with hip bone length fitted jackets or tops to keep the outfit in proportion.  If you do wear it with a longer layer, such as a cardigan, leave it open and belt the under layer to define the waist.  Turtlenecks and chunky fitted knits are good options for those with a trim upper body.  

Longer length skirts are perfect with boots, especially lace ups.  Or try them with heels:  oxfords, mary janes, or platforms.  For the latest trend, add some cute ankle socks.     

TIP: 
To select your best skirt length options, try this.  Using a piece of poster board/cardboard, stand barefoot in front of a full length mirror.  Slowy move the poster board to different spots on your leg.  Where it makes your leg look the best, have someone measure from the floor up to that spot.  Use this method to determine all your best skirt length. 



      

And the Giveaway Winner Is...

Our CSN Stores $35 Gift Certificate winner is...a la Modest!   Congratulations!!!  Thanks to CSN stores for partnering with Hip Fashion Stylist so we could bring you this opportunity.  And thanks to all of you who entered.  (Winner selected using random.com.)

1960's Victorian Revival

As you already know, I love historic looks and vintage clothes.  This photo is from a shoot I styled two years ago.  I love the flowing Victorian looking Gunne Sax dress from the 60's, the historic location, and the muted colors from the setting sun.  Photo by Dirk Olsen.



Don't forget, my CSN Stores $35 gift certificate giveaway ends tomorrow at midnight (Oct. 10).  The winner will be announced on Monday, October 11.  See my previous post for details on entering. 

Stylish Shoes

I love looking at all the sky high heels, but when it comes to reality, I won't wear them.  At least, not for long!  And I refuse to spend a lot of money on shoes because they go out of fashion so fast.  My most often worn shoes are my ballet flats and my low heel boots.  Here is my latest boot purchase...Unionbay Moto boots.  Aren't they fun?  I can't wait for colder weather!    



Unionbay



I took it as a challenge to find a variety of stylish, but inexpensive low heel shoes to share with my readers who are also "High Heel Challenged."  I checked out the following online stores:  shoes.com, shoebuy.com, and famousfootwear.com.  Here are a few of my favorites for under $50.




Anne Klein





Kensie Girl



Steven Madden




Dr. Scholls

Madden Girl



Rocket Dog

 

Rampage

Don't forget to sign up for my $35 gift certificate giveaway from CSN stores.  The contest ends Sunday, October 10.  See previous post for details.



Giveaway: $35 Gift Certificate from CSN Stores

Great News!!  CSN Stores has offered to sponsor a $35 gift certificate giveaway on Hip Fashion Stylist.  CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be a stylish handbag,  a chic bar stool or fabulous cookware.  And if you are the winner, you can use your gift certificate as you wish at any of their 200+ websites.  For those of you who are in love with the Anuschka handbags from my last post, you can find them there!   

Here are a few of my favorite fashion accessories for under $35. 



Kenneth Cole Reaction clutch wallet - $25.99

David King  Rivet Bag - $29.99



Anuschka coin purse - $16.00



Anuschka checkbook cover - $34.00

Adi microsuede boot - $35.00

Journee flats - $35.00



To enter, simply check out http://www.csnstores.com/, find something you love, and leave a comment on this post telling me about it.  (Choose any item at any price, but not the items shown above.)  Want an extra bonus entry?  Subscribe to this blog though BlogLovin' and leave me a comment telling me that you did. 
This giveaway ends October 10 at midnight and  it is open to US and Canada readers only.  Good luck!